Biscayne Bay Southeastern Everglades Ecosystem Restoration

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Surface Water Quality Criteria

(48)(b) In no case shall nutrient concentrations of a body of water be altered so as to cause an imbalance in natural populations of aquatic flora or fauna.
Numeric interpretations of the narrative nutrient criterion in paragraph 62-302.530(48)(b), F.A.C., shall be expressed as spatial averages and applied over a spatial area consistent with their derivation. In applying the water quality standards, the Department shall take into account the variability occurring in nature and shall recognize the statistical variability inherent in sampling and testing procedures.

Estuary-Specific Numeric Interpretations of the Narrative Nutrient Criterion

62-302.532(1) FAC. Estuary-Specific Numeric Interpretations of the Narrative Nutrient Criterion.
Estuary	Segement	Total Phosphorus (mg L⁻¹) A	Total Nitrogen (mg L⁻¹) A	Chlorophyll-a (μg L⁻¹) A
(f) Florida Bay	1. Central Florida Bay	0.019	0.99	2.2
	2. Coastal Lakes	0.045	1.29	9.3
	3. East Centeral Florida Bay	0.007	0.65	0.4
	4. Northern Florida Bay	0.010	0.68	0.8
	5. Southern Florida Bay	0.009	0.64	0.8
	6. Western Florida Bay	0.015	0.37	1.4
(g) Florida Keys	1. Back Bay	0.009	0.25	0.3
	2. Backshelf	0.011	0.23	0.7
	3. Lower Keys	0.008	0.21	0.3
	4. Marquesas	0.008	0.21	0.6
	5. Middle Keys	0.007	0.22	0.3
	6. Oceanside	0.007	0.17	0.3
	7. Upper Keys	0.007	0.18	0.2
(h) Biscayne Bay	1. Card Sound	0.008	0.33	0.5
	2. Manatee Bay - Barnes Sound	0.007	0.58	0.4
	3. North Central Inshore	0.007	0.31	0.5
	4. North Central Outer-Bay	0.008	0.28	0.7
	5. Northern North Bay	0.012	0.30	1.7
	6. South Central Inshore	0.007	0.48	0.4
	7. South Central Mid-Bay	0.007	0.35	0.2
	8. South Central Outer-Bay	0.006	0.24	0.2
	9. Southern North Bay	0.010	0.29	1.1
A Criteria expressed as annual geometric means (AGM) are not to be exceeded more than once in a three year period.

Outstanding Florida Waters protection is implemented through the permitting process.

Special Protection, Outstanding Florida Waters, Outstanding National Resource Waters

1. “… No degradation of water quality, other than that allowed in subsections 62-4.242(2) and (3), F.A.C., is to be permitted in Outstanding Florida Waters and Outstanding National Resource Waters, respectively, notwithstanding any other Department rules that allow water quality lowering.”
1. For each Outstanding Florida Water listed under subsection 62-302.700(9), F.A.C., the last day of the baseline year for defining the existing ambient water quality (paragraph 62-4.242(2)(c), F.A.C.) is March 1, 1979, unless otherwise indicated. Where applicable, Outstanding Florida Water boundary expansions are indicated by date(s) following “as mod.” under subsection 62-302.700(9), F.A.C. For each Outstanding Florida Water boundary which expanded subsequent to the original date of designation, the baseline year for the entire Outstanding Florida Water, including the expansion, remains March 1, 1979, unless otherwise indicated.

62-302.700 FAC. Outstanding Florida Waters.
Name	Date 1
Biscayne National Park a	as mod. 5-14-86, 8-8-94
Everglades National Park	as mod. 8-8-94
East Everglades	5-14-86
Miami Rockridge Pinelands	8-8-94
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park	as mod. 5-14-86, 4-19-88
North Key Largo Hammock	5-14-86; as mod. 4-19-88, 10-4-90, 8-8-94
Oleta River State Recreation Area	12-1-82
Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge	12-1-82; as mod. 5-14-86, 4-19-88, 8-8-94
Biscayne Bay AP (Cape Florida)	---
Biscayne Bay AP (Card Sound)	12-1-82
Florida Keys b	---
Deering Hammock/Estate	5-14-86; as mod. 4-19-88, 8-8-94
ITT Hammock	5-14-86
1 Date as referenced in 62-302.700 FAC, no date indicates default baseline period (prior to March 1,1979)
aBiscayne National Park identified as Outstanding National Resource 62-302.700(10)(a)1 dated June 15,1989
bFlorida keys identified as special waters 62-302.700(9)(i)13 FAC

Antidegradation Permitting Requirements; Outstanding Florida Waters; Outstanding National Resource Waters

1. “No Department permit or water quality certification shall be issued for any proposed activity or discharge within an Outstanding Florida Waters, or which significantly degrades, either alone or in combination with other stationary installations…”
1. “For the purpose of this section the term “existing ambient water quality” shall mean (based on the best scientific information available) the better water quality of either (1) that which could reasonably be expected to have existed for the baseline year of an Outstanding Florida Water designation or (2) that which existed during the year prior to the date of a permit application. It shall include daily, seasonal, and other cyclic fluctuations, taking into consideration the effects of allowable discharges for which Department permits were issued or applications for such permits were filed and complete on the effective date of designation.”

Outstanding Florida Waters fact sheet.

Numeric Nutrient Criteria fact sheet